Net neutrality, privacy and human rights were in focus on Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's speech (pdf) at the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly, on September 24, 2013. The leader said that UN needs to establish international protections for Internet users from spying and announced Brazil's intention to prepare a proposal for the creation of multilateral mechanisms for governance and internet use. Soon the hashtag #DilmaNaONU became trending on Twitter.

An investigative report by Globo TV [pt] from early July, based on Edward Snowden's leaks, denounced N.S.A. priority spying on Brazilian citizens’ electronic communications, including Brazilian president's phone calls, embassies and the state oil corporation, Petrobras. At her speech, the President considered this electronic surveillance to be a serious human rights violation and an act of disrespect towards the principles that should guide relations between sovereign countries.

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